The two largest prediction market platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket, have taken their rivalry from trading terminals to the streets of New York. On Tuesday, Kalshi hosted a massive grocery giveaway in Manhattan, while Polymarket announced the opening of its own free store.
Platforms are hunting for unconventional promotion channels. This marketing push comes as ad bans loom over the upcoming Super Bowl and sector metrics skyrocket.
The Offline Battle for the Mass User
Kalshi’s promo hit Westside Market on February 3. The company offered to cover $50 of users' grocery bills. According to the guest list, 1,795 people pre-registered. Eyewitnesses and media reported thousands of attendees, with lines stretching several blocks. The event ran for three hours.
Its competitor fired back with a strategic announcement. Polymarket stated it signed a lease to open The Polymarket — “New York’s first free grocery store.” The launch is set for next Thursday, February 12.
Platform reps claim the project has been in the works for several months. As part of the initiative, Polymarket also donated $1 M to the Food Bank For NYC, an organization supporting residents facing food insecurity.
Explosive Growth in Trading Volumes
Offline activations are fueling a surge of interest in the industry. Aggregate daily trading volumes on top venues topped $400 M, four times the figures for the same period last year. Kalshi logged revenue solely from fees amounting to $263.5 M in 2025. Both companies now boast multi-billion dollar valuations.
The war for liquidity and users extends to the media landscape. In January, Polymarket inked a partnership with Dow Jones, while Kalshi teamed up with CNN and CNBC in December.
The companies take different approaches to outdoor advertising. Polymarket previously ran a billboard campaign designed to provoke street artists into vandalism, whereas Kalshi streams live betting odds on digital screens.
Read also:
- Google Integrates Kalshi and Polymarket Data Into Search Results
- Kalshi Launches Tokenized Bets on Solana
- Polymarket Announces Plans for POLY Token and Airdrop
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